------by FIFAworldcup.com
Source:
07-04-2006 10:32
A glance at the record books helps to put the scale of Saturday night's loss into context. Twelve months ago in Frankfurt, Brazil gave full notice of their title ambitions by rampaging past Argentina in the Final of the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. On the back of that triumph, Carlos Alberto Parreira's men arrived in Germany hotly tipped to retain the title, their squad packed with players of undoubted quality.
Now, once again in Frankfurt, they bid farewell to a competition that has not seen the best of Parreira's galaxy of stars. Little wonder Brazilian fans are leaving for home bitterly disappointed.
Changes made
The side that started against France was markedly different to the one that embarked on their FIFA World Cup journey against Croatia. Apparently bowing to popular demand, Parreira tried out a new midfield partnership bringing in the hard-working Gilberto Silva to play alongside Ze Roberto in the place of Juventus veteran Emerson.
The coach also left out powerful striker Adriano in favour of Lyon’s midfield maestro Juninho Pernambucano and pushed Ronaldinho up front alongside Ronaldo to form a strike partnership that, on paper at least, would set any pulse racing.
The changes seemed to herald a tactical shift on the part of the evergreen Parreira, putting more emphasis on dynamism and movement. But apart from the first ten minutes of the match, the changes simply did not work as the five-times champions struggled to get out of second gear.
The net result was a sluggish and laboured performance, and French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez was rarely threatened. In the face of Brazilian torpor, an inspired Zinedine Zidane took charge of the game in the middle of the park and Les Bleus never looked back.
The South Americans’ supporters were not slow in voicing their discontent. Even in the first half with the game deadlocked at 0-0, the Brazilian torcida tried desperately to get behind their team, demanding more spirit and effort from the players. But as the Verdeamarelos continued to toil, it became obvious that the malaise had spread throughout the team. As hard as Ze Roberto, goalkeeper Dida or centre-half Lucio tried to answer their country’s call, their team-mates simply failed to respond.
For their part, France set about the game in a manner very similar to the Brazilians. They sat deep, looking to soak up any Brazilian forays, and began to dominate possession. Relying heavily on the genius and creativity of Zidane to carve out chances, they were able to unleash the blistering pace of Thierry Henry and Frank Ribery.
While Domenech's deadly duo of Zidane and Henry were very much on song, the fabled front pairing of Ronaldinho and Ronaldo failed to hit the right notes. Backed up by a typically forceful display from Patrick Vieira, the French were irresistible.
Fighting hard to turn the tide, Lucio and Juan at the heart of the Brazilian defence managed to restrict Les Bleus to very few clear-cut efforts, until a lack of concentration at the back cost them dearly. Zidane’s free-kick was swung in from the left, and the defence stood still as Henry was left unmarked to volley high past Dida from close range.
Parreira would have expected an instant riposte from his superstars, but none was forthcoming. Even the introduction of Adriano could not rouse a one-dimensional Brazilian attack.
The fans, meanwhile, bayed for another substitution, chanting the name of Real Madrid starlet Robinho. Eventually, with ten minutes to go, the coach paid heed and sent on the mercurial striker, along with his Merengue team-mate Cicinho. The two finally brought some energy and enterprise to their team's attack, and the reigning champions finally put Barthez and his defenders under some pressure in the closing minutes. Unfortunately for the South Americans, it was a case of too little, too late.
A lack of respect
After the game, it was left to the French goalscorer Henry to reveal his team’s secret plan to defeat the mighty Brazilians. “To play against Brazil, you can’t respect them too much, otherwise they will finish you off.” The 1998 champions carried out that strategy to the letter, leaving their illustrious opponents to lick their wounds.
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was left dejected by the result. “We didn’t prepare for this,” he said. “Technically, we have a very good team, very experienced, but when you don’t win the title, it’s because there has been something missing. We had some problems, and we needed a little more preparation, probably in terms of fitness and getting the team to play as a unit.”
Ronaldinho was similarly downbeat, but preferred to focus his immediate thoughts on his country’s prospects for the next FIFA World Cup in South Africa. “Life goes on," he said. "It’s not the time to say too much. Now we have to get ourselves together and think about four years from now, and our planning for the future.”
The Brazilians’ defeat also left a lingering impression on youngster Robinho, who by his own admission will use this experience to improve as a player. “Life is a learning curve. We learn when we win, but we also learn when we lose,” he said. And even after a lacklustre tournament from his team, nobody would deny that the starlet will get his chance to show just how much he has taken on board. The Brazilians will be back - of that there is no doubt.
Editor:Ge
